Our Legal Fees

All our legal fees attract VAT at the current rate of 20%

Conveyancing Fees

We offer a fixed fee for this type of service which is on a sliding scale based on the value of the property you are looking to buy or sell.

Sale

Value of property:	Fee:	Vat:	Land Registry (approx):
0-150,000	495.00	99.00	25.00
150,000-200,000	550.00	110.00	25.00
200,000-250,000	595.00	119.00	25.00
250,000-300,000	625.00	125.00	25.00
300,000-350,000	650.00	130.00	25.00
350,000-400,000	695.00	139.00	25.00
400,000-450,000	750.00	150.00	25.00
450,000-500,000*	895.00	179.00	25.00

*Properties valued above £500,000 will be agreed by negotiation and our fee will be no more than 1% of the property value.

Purchase

Value of property:	Fee:	Vat:	Searches:
0-150,000	495.00	99.00	200.00
150,000-200,000	550.00	110.00	200.00
200,000-250,000	595.00	119.00	200.00
250,000-300,000	625.00	125.00	200.00
300,000-350,000	650.00	130.00	200.00
350,000-400,000	695.00	139.00	200.00
400,000-450,000	750.00	150.00	200.00
450,000-500,000*	895.00	179.00	200.00

*Properties valued above £500,000 will be agreed by negotiation and our fee will be no more than 1% of the property value.

Re-mortgage

Please ask for a quotation for our fees in respect of a re-mortgage; our maximum fee will be no more than 1% of the amount of the new mortgage loan.

Our estimated charges above reflect a straightforward transaction with no complications and this charging structure is, we feel, a fair one in that straightforward uncomplicated transactions attract lower charges while the more complicated transactions, which involve unexpected additional work, attract higher fees. The additional charges are identified and laid out clearly in our client engagement letter. These may include charges relating to identification checks, leasehold property, managing agents, joint ownership, shared equity ownership, mortgages, help to buy, title, indemnity insurance etc.

Potential additional disbursements and Tax may include:

• HM land registry fees (estimated above)
• Search fees including mining searches, local searches and drainage searches (estimated above)
• Bank charges for electronic funds transfers
• Copy document fees
• Search insurance
• Stamp Duty Land Tax (England) / Land Transaction Tax (Wales)

This list is not exhaustive and can also depend on mortgage lender's requirements. We will always inform you in advance of the total disbursements applicable to your particular transaction(s).

Our Fees

Our fees cover the work required to complete the purchase of your new home, including dealing with registration at the Land Registry and dealing with the payment of Stamp Duty Land Tax (Stamp Duty) if the property is in England, or Land Transaction Tax (Land Tax) if the property you wish to buy is in Wales. Our estimated charges above reflect a straightforward transaction with no complications and this charging structure is, we feel, a fair one in that straightforward uncomplicated transactions attract lower charges while the more complicated transactions, which involve unexpected additional work, attract higher fees. The additional charges are identified and laid out clearly in our client engagement letter. These may include charges relating to identification checks, leasehold property, managing agents, joint ownership, shared equity ownership, mortgages, help to buy, title, indemnity insurance etc.

The following are examples of the additional fees that may apply to your transaction:

Identification

• Online identity verification (per individual name for UK residents) - £15.00 plus vat
• Identity verification limited company - £50.00 plus vat
• Identity verification for non-UK residents or non-UK limited companies (per individual or company) - £250.00 plus vat

Leasehold Property

• If the property being bought or sold is Leasehold or is subject to a lease(s) eg a "coach-house" arrangement - £175.00 plus vat
• Preparation of a Deed of Variation in your sale or purchase where the Lease is defective or requires amendment - £175.00 plus vat
• Preparation of a Deed of Covenant - £75.00 plus vat
• If the property you are buying is Leasehold and the sellers are acquiring the freehold to sell to you simultaneously with your purchase - £200.00 plus vat

Title

• Where the title to property you are selling or buying is not registered at the Land Registry - £100.00 plus vat

Managing Agents

• If we have to deal with freehold Property managing agents - £100.00 plus vat

Electronic Funds Transfers

• Where we send funds to another party involved in the transaction or to you by electronic funds transfer - £35.00 plus vat.

Joint Ownership

• Preparation of a Declaration of Trust In relation to joint ownership - £175.00 plus vat

Shared Equity Ownership

• If the transaction involves a shared equity or shared ownsership scheme - £175.00 plus vat

Financial Arrangements

• Where another person is helping with funding (e.g. a gifted deposit) and we have to undertake identity checks and verify the source of additional funds - £150.00 plus vat

Mortgages

• If we have to obtain Deeds or Letters of Consent or Postponement from occupiers to satisfy your lenders requirements, for each individual - £75.00 plus vat
• To deal with redemption of a second and any subsequent mortgage or charge, for each individual charge - £75.00 plus vat
• If we have to deal with a lender who is seperately represented by its own solicitor - £295.00 plus vat

Indemnity Insurance

• If we have to arrange an indemnity insurance policy for lack of Building Regulation or compliance certificates - £35.00 plus vat
• If we have to arrange an indemnity insurance policy for any reason other than Building Regulation or compliance certificates title defect eg class of title, lack of access, a defective lease, unacceptable restrictive covenants or missing documents - £150.00 plus vat
• If we have to advise you on the need for indemnity insurance and on the terms of any appropriate policy in relation to the property you are buying; for lack of Building Regulation insurance; or £50.00 plus vat
  for any other indemnity insurance - £100.00 plus vat
• If a bespoke policy for a defect has to be arranged through a broker or direct with an insurance company in either your sale or purchase - £295 plus VAT.

Statutory Declaration

• Preparation of a statutory declaration - £75.00 plus vat

Land Registry

• Removal of protective Land Registry entries such as Restrictions Notices and Cautions, which are not automatically removed on discharge of a charge or mortgage and which require additional work on our part, for each removal - £100.00 plus vat
• To update your title at the Land Registry to reflect a name change or change of registered proprietor - £75.00 plus vat

Help to Buy

• Submitting a request for your Help to Buy ISA bonus - £50.00 plus vat
• Help to Buy Loan Wales - £75.00 plus vat
• Help to Buy Loan England - £100.00 plus vat

Stamp Duty Land Tax (England) or Land Transaction Tax (Wales)

• Preparing and submitting on-line on your behalf your self-assessed Tax Return to either the Welsh Revenue Authority or HMRC - £50.00

Miscellaneous

• Advising you on a Homebuyers or structural survey report Preparation of or advising on a Key Undertaking or Licence to Occupy on your sale or purchase - £100.00 plus vat
• Dealing with 3rd party solicitors eg matrimonial solicitors - £150.00 plus vat
• Arranging translations of documents - £100.00 plus vat
• Submitting additional contracts for a Contract race in a sale - £250.00 plus vat
• Retrieving your file from our storage
  Facility as your request - £75.00 plus vat

Disbursments

Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as Land Registry fees, search fees, Notice fees to Landlords in Leases and payments for management packs. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.

In addition to the above there may be:

• estate agents fees (if selling via an estate agent)
• an administration fee payable to the freeholder/managing agents for providing replies to enquiries (if applicable).
• It is sometimes necessary to check the identity of your buyer's or seller's conveyancer using an independent means of verification for a charge is payable.

Disbursements vary from property to property and can on occasion be significantly more than the ranges given above. We can give you an accurate figure once we have sight of your specific documents.

Where a property is leasehold you should also be aware that ground rent and service charge are likely to apply throughout your ownership of the property. We will confirm the ground rent and the anticipated service charge as soon as we receive this information.

Stamp Duty or Land Tax

This depends on the purchase price of your property. You can calculate the amount you will need to pay by using HMRC's website or if the property is located in Wales by using the Welsh Revenue Authority's website.

Land Registration Fee

The Land Registry charge a fee to deal with registration of your ownership following completion of your purchase. The Fee is generally based on the purchase price of the property but can vary depending on other factors. Current Land Registry Fees can be accessed here: HM Land Registry: Registration Services Fee.

How long will my house sale or purchase take?

How long it will take from your offer being accepted until completion will depend on a number of factors. The average process takes between 8 and 12 weeks.

It can be quicker or slower, depending on the parties in the chain. For example, if you are a first time buyer, purchasing a new build property with a mortgage in principle, it could take 6 weeks. However, if you are buying a leasehold property that requires an extension of the lease, this can take significantly longer, between 12 and 16 weeks. In such a situation, we would notify you of any delays and additional charges would apply.

The Service we provide and stages of the process

The services we provide and the stages involved in the purchase of a residential property vary according to the circumstances. However the main services and the key stages below are typical in a purchase:

• Take your instructions and give you initial advice
• Check finances are in place to fund purchase and contact lender's solicitors if needed
• Receive and advise on contract documents
• Carry out searches
• Obtain further planning documentation if required
• Make any necessary enquiries of seller's solicitor
• Give you advice on all documents and information received
• Go through conditions of mortgage offer with you
• Draft Transfer
• Advise you on joint ownership
• Obtain pre-completion searches
• Send final contract to you for signature
• Agree completion date (date from which you own the property)
• Exchange contracts and notify you that this has happened
• Arrange for all monies needed to be received from lender and you
• Complete purchase
• Deal with payment of Stamp Duty/Land Tax
• Deal with application for registration at Land Registry

Probate Fees and Service

All our legal fees attract VAT at the current rate of 20%

The loss of a loved one is a difficult time; we offer a full estate administration service, and we will deal with the work on your behalf with sensitivity and care and will provide practical and straightforward advice.

We will help you through this difficult process by obtaining the grant of probate or letters of administration on your behalf. We will also undertake the collecting and distributing of assets. The costs for providing this service are as follows

Applying for Grant only Excepted Non-taxable Estate

£1,500 plus VAT and disbursements.

Applying for Grant only Excepted non-taxable Estates, including transfer of Nil Rate Band

£2,000 plus VAT and disbursements.

Any Estate where an IHT400 Return is required

£3,000 plus VAT and disbursements.

This includes obtaining the information necessary to complete the IHT forms to apply for the Grant of Probate and where Inheritance Tax is payable, the payment of the Inheritance Tax from any liquid assets. Thereafter preparing and applying for the Grant of Probate and once received passing over the administration of the Estate to the Executors.

Full Administration

An estimate of 1.75% plus VAT of the gross value of the Estate for Inheritance Tax purposes, subject to a minimum fee of £3,000 plus VAT.

Please note, the complexity of the administration may require a higher fee. Once our fact-find initial attendance has been completed, we can then review the position and contact you again to confirm costs.

Following the initial assessment, we will provide a written confirmation of fees.

Full administration includes meeting with you and taking detailed instructions, reviewing assets and liabilities and writing initial letters to the financial institutions, utility companies and insurance companies, drafting documentation for Inheritance Tax clearance, making arrangements for payment of the Inheritance Tax, from liquid assets of the Estate or advising of other steps to be taken to pay Inheritance Tax, drafting documentation necessary to obtain the Grant and thereafter dealing with gathering in of assets and liabilities, preparation of any statutory notices regarding claims on the Estate and notifying Beneficiaries of their entitlement and obtaining the necessary identification and bank details, carrying out Bankruptcy Searches and thereafter dealing with payment of legacies and interim distributions and final payments of the Residuary Estate. We would also deal with the finalisation of the Income Tax position of the Deceased.

The following are not included in fixed prices:

• Property sales or transfers;
• Deeds of Variation for Beneficiaries;
• Appropriation of asset documents to Beneficiaries;
• Business and Farming advice;
• Any investigations by HMRC into the Deceased's lifetime tax affairs;
• Changes to legislation, during the course of the Estate administration;
• Trusts, including in which the Deceased was a Beneficiary as at the date of death;
• Trusts set up by the Deceased under the Will;
• HMRC Trust registration service requirements;
• Financial advice on the suitability of the disposal assets in the Estate;
• Personal taxation of Estate Beneficiaries;
• Restitution for long-term care funding incorrectly paid to the Deceased;
• Additional or certified copies of documents;
• Anything else not specifically identified in the scope of the fixed fee as set out above.
• Preparation of Powers of Attorney where Executors appoint Attorneys to act and obtain a Grant on their behalf.

Disbursements

Disbursements are costs that are payable to third parties. These include Probate Court fees, preparing of Affidavits, Bankruptcy only Searches and statutory advertisements.

The Estate may also be responsible for paying other administration expenses which may include, but are not limited to, estate agents fees, property clearance fees, asset and liability search fees, Will or other document searches, Valuers or Auctioneers' fees, Genealogists' fees, fees for overseas Grants and/or Notaries where there are assets in other jurisdictions and accountancy fees in particularly difficult taxation matters.

Details of Other Fees

A list of Disbursements as at the time of instruction will be provided.

• Probate fees are currently £273 and £1.50 per copy.
• Oath fees are £5 and £2 per exhibited document.
• Land Registry fees vary, depending on the value of the property.
• Office copy entries of properties cost £3, currently.
• Statutory advertisements are between £90 to £350 plus VAT at 20% which are placed in the London Gazette and local newspapers.

Deeds of Variation of a Will or Intestacy

£395 plus VAT.

Charges for an Assent or Transfer of a Property

£375 plus VAT together with Land Registry scale fees, based on the value of the property.

Timescale

On average, estates are dealt with within 12 months. The timescale may be longer than this due to factors outside our control. Typically, getting to the stage where it is possible to apply for the grant of probate or letters of administration can take around three months from the start of this process.

Common Terms

IHT400

HMRC form providing a comprehensive detail of assets of the Deceased for Inheritance Tax purposes.

RNRB

Residential Nil Rate Band which is available to a person who owns a property that they reside in at the date of their death that they are passing to direct descendants.

TRNRB

Transferrable Residential Nil Rate Band transferring of an unused Residential Nil Rate Band from a Deceased's husband/wife or civil partner where the assets are going to direct descendants.

NRB

Nil Rate Band. The amount a person can pass onto Beneficiaries without Inheritance Tax, which currently is £325,000.

TNRB

Transfer of unused Inheritance Tax Nil Rate Band of Deceased's husband/wife or civil partner.

Last Will & Testament Fees

Single Will

£175 plus VAT.

Couples/mirrored Wills

£275 plus VAT.

Notice of Severance of Joint Tenancy

£100 plus VAT.

If you require advice on a discretionary trust or trust and inheritence tax planning, fees can be given on request based on individual circumstances.

Declaration of Trust

£375 plus VAT.

Lasting Power of Attorney & Enduring Power of Attorney Fees

Health & Welfare Lasting Power of Attorney

£395 plus VAT plus Court of Protection registration fee (currently £82).

Property & Affairs Lasting Power of Attorney

£395 plus VAT plus Court of Protection registration fee (currently £82).

Registration of an Enduring Power of Attorney

£300 plus VAT plus Court of Protection registration fee (currently £82).

Deputyship Orders

Application for Property & Affairs Deputyship

Order £1500 plus VAT and Court of Protection fees.

Application for Health & Welfare Deputyship

Order from £2,500 plus VAT and Court of Protection fees.